adj
Common
disciplinary
dih-sih-PLIH-nuh-ree
Disciplinary (adj) means relating to punishment or rules meant to enforce good behaviour. Example: “He faced disciplinary action after missing three shifts without notice.”
adj
1
Relating to punishment or rules meant to enforce good behaviour.
"He faced disciplinary action after missing three shifts without notice."
"The school has a strict disciplinary policy for cheating."
"The manager called a disciplinary meeting after repeated complaints about lateness."
2
Relating to a particular academic subject or field of study.
"The conference encouraged disciplinary boundaries to be crossed, mixing biologists with engineers."
How to use disciplinary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with punishing rule-breaking, or with a specific field of study.
Common pairings
disciplinary action
disciplinary hearing
disciplinary committee
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Word forms
- Plural
- disciplinaries
- Comparative
- more disciplinary
- Superlative
- most disciplinary
Fill the gap
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He faced _____ action after missing three shifts without notice.
Etymology
From Latin disciplina, "instruction, training," the same source as "discipline."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for disciplinary
See all rhymes for disciplinary →Frequently asked questions
What does “disciplinary” mean?
The word “disciplinary” means relating to punishment or rules meant to enforce good behaviour. In plain terms, to do with punishing rule-breaking, or with a specific field of study.
How do you pronounce “disciplinary”?
“Disciplinary” is pronounced dih-sih-PLIH-nuh-ree (/ˈdɪs.ə.pləˌnɛɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “disciplinary” in a sentence?
Here is “disciplinary” used in a sentence: “He faced disciplinary action after missing three shifts without notice.”
What part of speech is “disciplinary”?
“Disciplinary” is an adjective.
Where does the word “disciplinary” come from?
The word “disciplinary” comes from Latin. From Latin disciplina, "instruction, training," the same source as "discipline.".
Is “disciplinary” a common word?
“Disciplinary” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “disciplinary” have?
“Disciplinary” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to punishment or rules meant to enforce good behaviour.
What is the difference between "disciplinary" and "punitive"?
"Disciplinary" refers broadly to punishment or rules meant to enforce good behavior, such as a workplace disciplinary policy, while "punitive" specifically emphasizes punishment as the goal, often with a harsher connotation. Disciplinary actions can include warnings or corrective steps, not only punishment.
What is a "disciplinary hearing"?
A "disciplinary hearing" is a formal meeting held to address alleged misconduct and decide on any disciplinary action, commonly used in workplace or academic settings. It follows rules meant to ensure a fair process before any punishment is applied.
How is "disciplinary" used to describe academic subjects?
In academic contexts, "disciplinary" can describe something relating to a particular field of study, as in "disciplinary boundaries" or "interdisciplinary research," which combines multiple fields. This sense is distinct from the rule-enforcement meaning and instead relates to academic disciplines.
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